Elevator-control system



Nov. 10 1925' R. P. HIGBEE ELEVATOR CONTROL SYSTEM Filed April 11, 1922A WITNESSES:

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ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 10, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATE'N err-"1c RAY P. HIGBEE, OF WILKINSBUBG,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY,A CDRIORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

nnava'roa-oonrnor. SYSTEM.

Application filed. April 11, 1922. Serial No. 551,483.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RAY P. HIGBEE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of lVilkinslmrg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Elevator-Control Systems, of which the following is a. specification. Myinvention relates to motor-control systems and it has particularrelation to such systems of control as are employed in connection withelevators, hoists and similar machines.

One object of my invention is to provide means for controlling anelevator car or other device independently of the skill of the caroperator, under predetermined conditions.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate devices located at thevarious floors to be mechanically operated by the car for certaincontrol purposes.

A further object of my invention is to provide electromagnetic orsimilar means mounted on the car for controlling the car stops withinpredetermined limits of travel.

Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the followingspecification and appended claims.

it is common practice, in systems of elevator control, to provideswitches in the hatchway that are operated by means of a cam attached tothe car. Devices of this character have been employed to perform'various functions, but are open to the objection that mechanicalcontact is necessary between the car and the stationary contact members.

it propose to eliminate mechanical-connections between devices mountedon the car and other devices, of the above-indicated character, locatedexternal to the car. As an illustration of my invention, it provide anelectromaguet, mounted on the car and arranged to energize an armaturethat may be located at any desired point of car travel in the hatchway.The armature is capable of movement and is arranged to operateelectrical contact members without drawing the armature into contactwith the electromagnet. A similar armature is preferably locatedadjacent to each landing.

in the arrangement that I propose for controlling an elevator motor, thema et armature operates as a reversing switc to perform the samefunctions as those normally required of the operators car switch. Vhenthe operator attempts to stop at any floor or landing, the electromagnetbecomes energized and actuates the magnet armature of the reversingswitch to control the elevator moto'r independently of the operator andeffect an accurate stop.

My invention will be described in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, in which the single figure is a diagrammatic view of circuitsand apparatus embodying my invention.

A motor having an armaturel and a field magnet winding 2 ma beoperatively connected,"through reversing switches 3 and 4, to line.conductors 5 and 6. An accelerating resistor 7 and a switch 8 areprovided for controlling the motor. Abrake 9 of any suitable andwell-known form may be em:v ployed for mechanically controllin therotation of the armature 1 and shou d be arranged to release thearmature 1 upon closure of either of the reversing switches 3 and 4, inaccordance with a familiar practice. The armature 1 may be operativelyconnected, in any desired manner, to a car 10,011 which is located anoperators controlling switch or car-switch 11.; An electromagnet- 12 ismounted on the car. An armature or auxiliary reversingswitch 13 ofmagnetic material, which is located adjacent to each landing, ispivotally mounted and main tained in its normal position by means of aspring 14. The armature 13 is influenced by the electromagnet 12, whenthe carswitch 11 occupies its inoperative or oil position, toselectively engage contact members 15 and 16 for operating reversingswitch 3 or reversing switch 4..

It may be assumed that the elevator car 10 is at rest and that thevarious switches and controlling devices occupy their inoperative orillustrated positions. When the car switch 11 is actuated for upwardmovement of the car 10, a circuit is established for the operating coilof switch 3 that extends from line conductor 6 through the operatingcoil of switch 3, conductor 17, contact member 18, car switch contactsegment 19, contact member 21, and conductors 22 and 23 to lineconductor 5.

Switch 3 thereupon closes to complete a. circuit for the motor armature1 that entends from line conductor 6 through switch rat 3, conductor 24,armature 1, resistor'T, and switch 3 to line conductor 5. The armature 1accelerates, and starting resistor 7 is then excluded from the armaturecircuit by means of switch 8, the operating coil of which is connectedacross the terminals of the armature 1. This method of controlling amotor is well understood and need not he further described. Moreover,any other suitable method may be employed.

When the car switch 11 isreturned to its off position, upon ap roachinga landing, contactsegment 19 is disengaged from con tact member 18 tointerrupt the circuit previously traced through the operating coil ofthe switch 3. A. circuit for the operating coils of the electromagnet 12is established from the line conductor 6 through conductor 25, operatingcoils of electromagnet 12, conductor 26, contact members 27 and 21, andconductors 22 and 23 to line conductor f Assuming that the car 10 tendsto stop below the level of the landing, the electromagnet 12 willenergize and unbalance the armature 13, causing the latter to engagecontact member 15. The electromagnet 12 is so located that a permanentair gap is maintained when armature 13 is in engagement with contactmember .5. There is, therefore, no mechanical connection between theelectromagnet and its armature. lit will he noted that contact members113 and 15 are electrically connected to contact memhers 21 and 18,respectively, for maintaining circuit for the operating coil of switch 3when the car switc l1 is in its iofi position.

.When the car ill attains the level of the desired landing, the armature18 at that landing is restored to its normal or illustrated position,since the electromagnet l2 then exerts a magnetic pull upon each end ofthe armature 13. The letter Peeing pivotally moimteol, its normalposition, hecause of the hclan efi'ccts oi the magnet its separation ofof contact member l5 interrupts the circuit previously throug'itheoperit will he if the car 10 tends L o q u a to stop shove the H dlanding, the electromagnet l2 will in 'he armature 13 oeeo tcl l cornemo energizc. cult or the switch 1S v uctor 6 through the ope-r doctor28, contac conductors 2i! i is conductor Switch. at cl see to theoperation the car l0 re d direction until the ahtially level the mousseusual manner when it is desired to effect the closure of switch 4 andthe operation of the car 10 to any of the lower landings. It should benoted that, in its running positions, the car switch interruptstheoperating circuit through the coils of magnet 12, since contact members19' and 27 are disengaged. i

It will be understood that, while 'i have illustrated only a singlearmature and reversing contact members associated therewith, a similararmature, and contact members, connected in parallel relation to theillustrated contact members, should be located at any floor where it isdesired to obtain automatic control of the elevator car.

l have thus shown a system that provides means for controlling theoperation of a carer similar device within predetermined limits oftravel, with respect to any landing, independcntlyof the skill of thecar operator. l have eliminated mechanical contact, between the car andthe operating switches, which in the past has been a source ofconsiderable trouble, principally on account of the fact that theswitches are easily deranged. My invention further eliminatesobjectionable noise caused by the engagement of mechanically operatedmembers.

ll claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a car and a motor therefor, of a pair ofmagnetic members, one movable in accordance with movements of the carand the other adjacent to the path of said movable member, and a coilfor encrgizing said members to control the motor.

2. The combination with a car and a motor therefor, of means carried bythe car and also adjacent thereto and co-opcrating magnetically forcontrolling the direction of rotation of the motor.

3. "The comhination with car and a motor therefor, of electromagneticreversing means for the motor, a portion only of the magnetic circuit ofsaid means being mounted on the car.

The combination with a car and a mo- .tor therefor, of a reversingswitch for the motor and an electromagnet having part of its magneticcircuit on the car and part adjacent thereto for actuating the reversing'lGO armature for the magnet adjacent to said car for actuating thereversing switch, and a switch for controlling said electromagnet.

7 The combination with a car and a mo tor therefor, of a reversingswitch for the. motor, an electromagnet on the car and an armature forthe magnet adjacent to said car for actuating the reversing switch, anda switch on the car for controlling said electromagnet.

8. The combination with a car and a motor therefor, of a car switch forcontrolling the motor, a reversing switch external to the car, and anelectromagnet on the car controlled by the car switch, saidswitches andelectromagnet being mechanically independent. 9. The combination with anelevator car and a. hoisting motor therefor, of a car switch on the car,an electromagnet on said car energized when the car switch is in its011' position, and a switch in the hatchway controlled by saidelectromagnet.

10. Thecombination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electromagnet on said car energized whenthe car switch is in its off position, and a switch in the hatchwaycontrolled by said electromagnet for controlling the motor.

11. The combination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electromagnet on said car energized whenthe car switch is in its otP position, and a switch in the hatchwacontrolled by said electromagnet for contro' ling the direction ofrotation of the motor.

12. The combination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electromagnet on said car energized whenthe car switch is in its off position and areversing -switch in thehatchway controlled by said electromagnet for controlling the motor inaccordance with the position of said car.

13. The combination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electromagnet on said car energized whenthe car switch is in its off position, and a reversing-switch in thehatchway controlled by said electromagnet for controlling the carindependently of the skill of the caroperator.

14. The combination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electromagnet onsaid car energized\vhenthe car switch is in its ofi'position and a reversing-switch in thehatchway, at each floor, controlled by said electromagnet forcontrolling the car to effect accurate landings whether the carovertravels or undertravels with respect to any landing.

15. The combination with an elevator car and a hoisting motor therefor,of a car switch on the car, an electroresponsive mas- 1391' switchcontrolled magnetically by said car and an electromagneticreversing-switch controlled by either of said switches for nation, acage,-a motor for driving said cage, and a levelling device forcontrolling the operation of said motor, said levelling devicecomprising an electromagnet, a supporting frame for said electromagnet,a switch, and means under the influence of said electromagnet foroperating said switch,

-18. An electric elevator having, in combination, a cage, a motor fordriving said cage, and electromagnetic means for instituting a levellingoperation of the motor just before stopping said cage at a landing. 19.An electric elevator having, in combination, a cage, a motor for drivingsaid cage, a switch device for controlling the operation of said motor,an electromagnetic means for producing an automatic levelling operationof said motor, said switch device acting to place said means intooperative connection with said motor.

20. An electric elevator having, in combi-- nation, a cage, a motor fordriving said cage, and electronutgnetic means for causing an automaticlevelling of said cage when a landing is to be effected. I

21. An electric elevator having, in combination, a hatchway, a cagewithin said hatchway, stationary means mounted in said hatchway, andmeans supported by said cage for movement therewith, both mentionedmeans co-operating electroma neti- 'cally to efl'ect a levellingoperation oi said motor.

22. In an electric elevator, in combination with a hatchway, a cage, andlevelling means for-governing the travel of said cage in saidhatchway,said levelling'means comprising a part secured to said hatchway and apart secured to said cage, said parts cooperating with each otherwithout coming intomechanical engagement 23. An electric elevatorcomfprising, in combination, a cage,.a motor or driving said cage, meansfor automatically controlling the operation of'said motor, said meanscomprising a switch, a lever operating to actuate said switch, andmagnetic means for effecting the movement of said lever without makingmechanical connectiontherewith.

2%. An electric elevator having, in com bination with a hatchway, a cagemoving therein and adriving motor for the cage, means for manuallcontrolling the motor, and automatic leveling means arran ed to operatesaid motor independently 0 said manual means, said levelling meanscomprising magnetically operated devices mounted partly'on said cage andpartly on said hatchway.

25. A levelling device for elevators comprising, in combination, aseries of spaced magnetic elements mounted along the hatchway, and meansmounted on the elevator cage and arranged to coact with said elementsand act by magnetism to control said levelling means.

26. An elevator having,in combination, a cage, a motor for driving saidcage, means for controlling the operation of said motor,

a magnetizable member secured in the elevator hatchway, andelectromagnetic means 20 for co-operating with said member to effect alevelling operation of the motor 27. An elevator having, in combination;with a hatchway, a cage, means for driving said cage, a magnetizablemember, and elec- 25 tromagnetic means for co-operating with said memberto effect a levelling operation of said driving means, said,.magnetizable member and said electromagnetic means being supported by saidcage and said so any r. I-IIGBEE. Y

